His Masterpiece

A while back we went through a ladies Bible study here at FCC on comparison. We learned that comparison is the thief of all joy. At the time I was able to relate to a lot of what we studied, but the message didn’t really resonate with me as I hoped it would.

This week and last I kept running across messages about comparison through blogs I follow and my daily devotions. It hit me that I really need to stop an listen. The Lord is trying to tell me something. You see, I have a huge issue with comparison. I tend to get down on myself easily because someone else always seems to be better at just about anything. My joy tank has been running quite low because comparison keeps sucking the fuel out. Can you relate?

One of my daily devotions on comparison had me read Job 12:12. It says “Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?” When I first read this I didn’t think it related to my comparison issue at all. So I dug deeper and found more scripture in 1 Corinthians 3, verse 7 it says “So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plans and the one who waters have purpose, and the will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” This sort of connected the dots for me. As we get older and dig deeper we get wiser. You see we are never too old to stop learning! I obviously have a lot left to learn. In that same devotional the author made a comment that impacted me. She said “Everything is happening at the pace in which God intends.” (Morgan Harper Nichols). So you mean that what’s happening in my life, right now, at this pace is exactly how God intended? Of course it is. Because I am God’s field, his building, his masterpiece and so are YOU!

So this comparison thing started to really unfold for me. I started to realize that I just have to trust in the fact that God put me in this exact moment of my life because it’s all a part of his plan. That is comforting yes, but I still often ask why? Why not a different path or purpose or plan for me, for my family, this community, this church?

Then I got an email from Catalyst Insider and a video about comparison with Robert Madu. If you have 5 minutes, watch it, it’s pretty powerful.

“Only YOU can do what God has called you to do”.

“Everything you need to do what God has called you to do is already in you.”

“Stop complaining to the Master about the pieces you didn’t get and just start praising Him that YOU ARE A MASTERPIECE”.

The Lord really spoke to me and said enough is enough! So, I’ve been praying a lot this week and really finding comfort in my who I am in Christ. I also find this comforting for my family, this community and this church. God has so many great things in store for all of us. We just have to stop looking out the window, stop complaining about what we don’t have and PRAISE HIM because he has already given us so much. We just have to look inside and see he is right there and it’s all part of his plan!